CLEMSON — After holding firm with four verbal commitments — all from the Upstate — since early March, Clemson finally added No. 5 to the list earlier this week, this time venturing to the Lowcountry.

Battery Creek High School safety Ricky Chaney gave his pledge to the Tigers on Wednesday, according to multiple reports, just moments after Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney called with official offer.

The newest addition to the Tiger coaching staff, defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks, was the lead recruiter for Chaney, making the Beaufort native the first commitment for Brooks since he was officially hired at Clemson in late March.

Chaney, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, picked the Tigers over interest from a number of ACC and SEC schools, including Florida, Florida State, Miami, North Carolina, Maryland and South Carolina, but indications were that Clemson had moved to the forefront for his services since he visited the campus for its junior day in February.

Last season, Chaney recorded 37 tackles and one sack for Battery Creek. He is listed as ‘NR’ or Not Rated by both of the major recruiting services, Rivals.com and Scout.com, which only means that he has yet to be scouted.

The fact that all five of the Tigers’ current commitments hail from the Palmetto State is further proof of the emphasis that Swinney has placed on recruiting within its borders.

“If we’re going to be successful — we’re never going to be able to completely support our program here because we just don’t have enough people, but there’s great high school football in this state, great coaching — we’ve got to get the best players in this state,” Swinney said during spring practice. “And for us to do that, we’ve got to emphasize it.”

The Tigers are also believed to be running in the lead group for a number of other in-state prospects, including Beaufort linebacker Justin Parker, Allendale-Fairfax safety Bashaud Breeland, Berkeley athlete Bruce Ellington and Chester offensive lineman Kalon Davis.

In addition to Chaney, Clemson’s commit list currently includes T.L. Hanna receiver Martavis Bryant and linebacker Jake Nicolopulos, Gaffney athlete Joe Craig and Daniel athlete DeAndre Hopkins. Bryant, Craig and Hopkins each hold four-star status by at least one of the major recruiting services.